Please don't feel sorry for me, but....

Another busy week lined up for me. I am in Head Office first thing then on to the offices in Paignton and Brixham in the afternoon. I appointed an Area Manager for Torbay last month so it will be good to see first-hand how month one went.

On Tuesday I am off to Okehampton and Crediton to have a look at our Mid Devon offices. Wednesday and Thursday are back in Head Office to meet with Directors and the Chairman and to process end of month figures.

Friday will see me in Saltash where they have been doing very well in the absence of their Manager who is currently on Maternity leave. I know they are very much looking forward to her return at the start of April but in the mean time they have agreed 5 sales in the last 10 days, so it just goes to show the depth of experience in the office proves that if things continue to be done well sales will always result.

Francis Marshall FNAEA

The thank you table..?

I have just got back from Callington office this morning. Whilst the general market remains tough our Callington branch are performing miracles. They are working on 10 more sales to be agreed over the next week or so and this is the culmination of some exceptionally hard work. I was very impressed with their table of thank you gifts from happy customers and another satisfied customer brought in another bottle of wine while I was there. Sam the Manager told me that this months initiative to increase referrals into other areas of Bradleys is, if somebody makes 3 referrals in a day, they get their pick from the thank you table. 

To be able to write about how much Bradleys customers appreciate our staff makes me very proud so I guess we have got something right.

Francis Marshall FNAEA

Twinkle toes...

A very busy day today. I met with the Chairman of Foot Anstey Solicitors before visiting our high performing North Street and St Thomas offices in Exeter. They are both doing a great job this month with 13 sales for the month so far and I was informed there are more in the pipeline. If anybody has a house to sell in Exeter please let me know as our offices are fast selling out of stock!

I am meeting with the Managing Director of Westcounry Publications tomorrow to discuss a very interesting subject before meeting with the Managing Director of Radar Homes later in the afternoon at Head Office. All these high level meetings in a short space of time keeps me on my toes.    

Francis Marshall FNAEA

All heart!

Not a bad week last week with enough contracts exchanged to put us ahead of target so that is very good news and I wonder if it might just start to show there is some life in the market.

This week we have our three Area Meetings where we get all the managers together in their areas and agree our strategy for the coming month as well as sharing ideas and finding out what else is going on around the offices. I normally buy everyone dinner after the Cornwall Meeting which finishes at 7.30 but as it's Valentine's day I am demonstrating I am all heart by starting and finishing the meeting early and sending the boys and girls home without feeding them so they can be with their loved ones!

Francis Marshall FNAEA
Managing Director
Bradleys Group

Commercial Break

A busy day today. I am in Head Office first thing to meet with our Teignmouth Manager and then with our Commercial Manager who is currently inspiring all of the offices to sell more Commercial property, so well done to him. As I have said before it's the diversity of our services which is helping us through these difficult times and it is great to be able to say if it's property related in the South West then Bradleys can help.

In the Afternoon I am back to Plymouth to meet with our 2 new Managers who were both appointed in January. They are not new to Bradleys but both were promoted from within so I am very much looking forward to seeing how they are doing and helping them settle into their new roles.

A day in the life of...

I spent the day in Exeter today. Firstly in the St Thomas office where I was delighted to see first-hand the good work being done by the enthusiastic team there, then on to the city centre office in North Street where our massively experienced team were very pleased to show me their new instructions taken on in January. Robin the Manager explained that buyers have been found for some of them already and he expected the others to be agreed this month. What he really needs is more to sell so if you have a property to sell in Exeter then give Robin a call.

On the way back I was called by our Land and New Homes Director to advise me of the fantastic news that he had just secured a new development in East Devon with 30 units for our Sidmouth office to start selling in the next few weeks. Very timely as the Sidmouth have just finished selling their last new development.

Francis